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"Real Rock Drive" was the title of an early rock and roll song written by, and first recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets under the name Bill Haley with Haley's Comets in 1952. The song was released as an Essex Records 78 single.[1]
| "Real Rock Drive" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Bill Haley and His Comets as Bill Haley with Haley's Comets | ||||
| Released | 1952 | |||
| Recorded | 1952 | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll | |||
| Length | 2:24 | |||
| Label | Essex Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Bill Haley | |||
| Producer(s) | Dave Miller | |||
| Bill Haley and His Comets as Bill Haley with Haley's Comets singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
History
editThe music and the lyrics were written by Bill Haley.
The song was recorded in Chester, Pennsylvania, and was released by Essex Records as a B-side of a single in November, 1952. Personnel on the recording included Haley's core Comets members Marshall Lytle (bass), Billy Williamson (steel guitar), and Johnny Grande (piano), plus session musicians Danny Cedrone (lead guitar) and Billy Gussak (drums).[2][3]
The recording was released on Essex Records as Essex 310 backed with "Stop Beatin' Round the Mulberry Bush". The recording was also released on Trans-Word Records as 718 backed with "Yes, Indeed". The single did not chart.[4][5]
The recording was also released on London Records as a 78 single in Germany as L20069 in 1957.
The song was based on "Tennessee Jive" by Tani Allen and His Tennessee Pals with vocals by Buck Turner, released in 1950 on Bullet Records in Nashville, Tennessee. A plagiarism suit was brought by the publisher of the song, Volunteer Music. The song was written by Buck Turner. This resulted in no songwriter or publisher being credited on the Essex record label.[6]
Cover versions
editThe California-based band The Blasters have recorded the song on the 1980 American Music album. Phil Haley and his Comments, The Starliters, The Rhythm Hogs, Little Caesar, and Rusti Steel and The Star Tones have also recorded or performed the song.
Sources
edit- Jim Dawson, Rock Around the Clock: The Record That Started the Rock Revolution! (Backbeat Books, 2005), pp. 50–55.
- John W. Haley and John von Hoelle, Sound and Glory (Dyne-American, 1990).
- John Swenson, Bill Haley: The Daddy of Rock and Roll (Stein & Day, 1985).
References
edit- ^ "Bill Haley Recordings". Thegardnerfamily.org. Retrieved 2015-02-11.
- ^ Bill Haley Essex and Decca Discography at This is Vintage Now
- ^ "Bill Haley 1951-1954 discography (Holiday and Essex Records)". Thegardnerfamily.org. Retrieved 2015-02-11.
- ^ Rock the Joint! The Original Essex Recordings, 1951–1954. SKR 1529. Roller Coaster Records, UK, 1989. See the liner notes by Chris Gardner, Bill Haley Holiday/Essex Session File.
- ^ "Song artist 88 - Bill Haley & his Comets". Tsort.info. Retrieved 2015-02-11.
- ^ Bear Family Records. Bill Haley. Accessed 11 August 2021..